Since its inception in 1987, National AIDS Control Program has focused overwhelmingly on interventions for prevention. However, in order to make the program more comprehensive and holistic, NACP III had emphasized on strengthening of component on care, support and treatment of people living with HIV / AIDS (PLHAs). GSACS is implementing an expanded mandate for care & support of people living with HIV/AIDS by:
Supporting community care centers (CCCs) and drop-in centers (DICs) etc of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Currently there are four CCCs and 14 DICs in the state. GSACS encourages and supports registered organizations of people living with HIV/ AIDS to set up drop-in-centres which provide peer counseling and referrals for health care and social services.
Ensuring the availability of essential drugs for opportunistic infections. GSACS fund the treatment of opportunistic infections in government-run hospitals up to the CHCs level. NACO also provides drugs for post-exposure prophylaxis in all government hospitals admitting dealing with people HIV/AIDS.
TB is the most common opportunistic infection among those living with HIV in India. Accordingly services for ICTC to the DOTS/Microscopy centres, set up-under the revised national TB control program, has been linked to improve access to free treatment for the HIV-TB co infection
Prevention of transmission from an HIV positive woman to her infant through anti-retroviral (ARV) prophylaxis and safer delivery practices is cornerstone of PPTCT program. The services are being offered up to taluka level in almost all CHCs of Gujarat
Anti-retroviral treatment (ART) are being provided free of cost at 6 hospitals of state for people living with HIV/AIDS. As on June 2008, 17486 people are on registered for HIV care and 6122 PLHA alive PLHA are on ART.
